Basque ethnography at a glance

Author: Hibai Agorria.

Munduko Arrozak (Arroces del mundo – Riz du monde – Rice from the world – Thieb yi ci adunabi – Korpitcha lumjake – أرز العالم – বিশ্বের চাল – 世界稻米) is an initiative that defines itself as an intercultural, popular, participatory and self-managed festival. It is celebrated in the San Francisco neighbourhood of Bilbao since 2004. Organized by the coordinating entity that brings together the groups from Bilbao la Vieja, San Francisco, and Zabala. It is celebrated on an early June Saturday, always taking into account that it does not coincide with Ramadan.

Over the years, the initiative has spread to various locations within and outside the Basque Country. However, the original idea arose in the San Francisco neighbourhood. Under the motto “Reclaim, okupatu, participa” various activities are organized, including children’s games, musical performances, a protest march, and a communal meal, always based on rice. As is customary at events of this type, residents gather to eat and drink in the neighbourhood’s most representative square; in this case, paying special attention to the gastronomic richness and the way of life of each group.

The Munduko Arrozak group from San Francisco is a rich and diverse community of donors; who usually begin organizing several months before the festival, and for each edition, they divide the responsibilities among around 250 people. Regarding the day of the festival, given capacity limitations in 2022, 3,000 people participate each year. In 2024, 114 groups were organized, bringing together people from 70 different territories around the world.

It is also worth noting that the initiative is self-funded and carried out thanks to the work of the community. Therefore, despite its remarkable symbolic significance, it has a limited budget. However, since the budget is financed without administrative support, its continuity does not depend on third parties. In fact, a symbolic registration fee is collected to cover expenses, and various initiatives are organized, such as the sale of merchandising, raffles, and so on.

Author: Hibai Agorria.

Munduko Arrozak was created with the aim of strengthening relationships between residents. However, over time, it has become a symbol of the neighbourhood’s identity, and today it is arguably its main festival. All of this, of course, is thanks to the network of neighbourhood associations and the collaboration fostered over decades.

In this sense, from a heritage perspective, the uniqueness of the Munduko Arrozak initiative lies in the fact that, in addition to local culture, it values other cultures that coexist in the area and offers the opportunity to participate, avoiding cultural assimilation. In this way, it manages to attract all types of communities and people from diverse backgrounds; something that, unfortunately, is not very common in most manifestations of intangible cultural heritage. The focus of the speech is the proposal for coexistence within a neighbourhood through a distinctive element, but also through the discourse of identity and cohesion of the communities, the community’s attachment to the borough, and contemporary cultural customs.

If we had to highlight one aspect of the initiative held by Munduko Arrozak, it would probably be the most important: the recognition of all cultural values in the neighbourhoods around the square, and the construction of collective identity and self-esteem through this space. After all, isn’t the essence of cultural heritage its role in social well-being? Could Munduko Arrozak become a model for a way of acting in the world of heritage? And, finally, a question that inevitably arises: what plan is in place to respond to the sociodemographic diversity of our streets and schools and begin to represent it?

Klara Larruzea — Labrit Ondarea